Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-02-19
SCHOOL INTERESTS NO. is.

It is claimed by some wiseacres that
this being fast age, education should
keep pace with the march of improve.
ments in the arts and science and indus
tries. True, the appliances and methods
are vastly superior to what they were
some decades ago, but the mind is the
same as IL was at the creation, and its
development is still slow and gradual.
The farmer can cut his grain sooner by
the invented machinery, but that does
not make the seed germinate and grow
and ripen whit faster. The sun and
moon move still with the same velocity
in their periodical revolutions. No new
law has accelerated their motions. Beef
steak, potatoes and corn do not hurry
and mushroom the child into six footer
any faster than centuries ago. Ii Is not
| what and how much a man eats, but
what he properly digests that promotes
physical development and health. The
same is true of the mind. 1t requires
slow, gradual, constant development.
am speaking of the average mind,
for some minds are more rapidly develop
ed than others but an over rapid mem
tai growth is rather to be regretted. It
generally indicates hot-bed stimulus,
unnatural and transient and precocity
becomes only another name for effemina-
cy. Carlyle quantity but aptly says of
such =" the quickest and completest of
all vegetables is the cabbage
| If may Judge from the multiplicity
and variety of text books that are be-
ginning to be introduced into the schools,
it would seem as if education is to be
cheated out of its natural and legitimate
slowness, ruggedness and gradual pro-
gress, by the wonderful enchantment Of
new methods, new systems and new
illustrations. Books upon books are dis
gorged from the press upon us in deluges,
each author claiming his to be the best,
with avenues length of references and
recommendation. Each brand has its
three, four, five or six books in series
of regular graduation to serve as rungs
or steps in the ascent of the mind. This
very often instead of lubricating the edu-
cational machinery, occasions serious
embarrassment, waste of time, and a
heavy tax upon patrons. 1t may be con-
sidered a strange position for me to take,
but if had it to do, would Danish at
least one half of the common school
textbooks in series, and in some
branches require the teacher to be him
self the textbook. 1t is my opinion that
teacher supplied simply with alphabet
ical charts, series of three Readers
properly arranged, outline maps in Geo
graphy, and good blackboard, can ac-
complish more in our common schools
than one numbered and embarrassed
with load of books. Were such a
course adopted, it would bring our
methods nearer to nature and the result
would be gain in legitimate develop
ment; and furthermore, believe it
would make the introduction of tho
graded system in the rural districts
easier
But the slow and gradual progress of
the pupils is not the only thing that re-
quires patience on the part of teacher.
Not to mention occasional provocations
from disaffected school officers and I'M
reasonable patrons, there are numerous
occasions for the exercise of this virtue
in the school-room. There are constant
violations of rules in one way or another,
arising from improper conduct, disobe-
dience, indifference, neglect of lesson,
quarrels and contentious, and some
times impudence, and various other
misdemeanors which are calculated to
irritate teacher. All of which must
be attended to and corrected or punish
ed without any show of impotence or
anger, for the moment the teacher gives
way to his passions, he loses the respect
of his pupils and his power of control,
and his trials will increase and multiply.
Be patient teacher, and while you may
truly say 81 am monarch of all | sur
vey," be sure that you are good, kind
and patient monarch. WIN. GERHARDT.
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